China-Middle East

Technology and the Global South: A US strategy for competitiveness

By Conrad Tucker, Peter Engelke

The United States and China are engaged in a strategic competition for scientific and technological leadership. To prevail, the United States must strengthen its tech-centric engagement with countries across the Global South.

In an age of great-power competition, democracy is an advantage for the United States

By Markus Jaeger

The spread of democracy could give Washington an edge in great-power competition and make armed conflict less likely.

What the latest US sanctions bill means for Russia—and for China, India, and Iran

By Maia Nikoladze

If it passes, the bill would affect several major countries that currently trade with Russia, and those effects should be factored into US planning.

Strategic Litigation Project Quarterly Newsletter: Responding to emerging crises

By Gissou Nia

The latest updates on the Strategic Litigation Project's work advancing human rights and accountability.

How will the Iran war change the US role in the world?

By Matthew Kroenig, Markus Garlauskas, and Beth Sanner

Atlantic Council experts weigh in on whether the United States should “pivot” its attention away from the Middle East and toward the Indo-Pacific.

Energy Sanctions Dashboard: October 2025

The October 2025 edition of the Energy Sanctions Dashboard analyzed China’s central role in the market for sanctioned oil and the techniques Russia, Iran, and Venezuela use to evade sanctions on oil.

How Gulf investments are responding to the US-China critical minerals competition

By Chenjie Song and Jonathan Fulton

Gulf sovereign wealth funds are seeking to maximize return on investment while maintaining strategic optionality.

The Iran war is not about China

By Jonathan Fulton

China is behaving like a normal external power with interests in the region, not like a crisis manager shaping outcomes.

Inside Tehran’s toll booth

By Alisha Chhangani

Iran is using formal, semi‑formal, and informal channels, as well as entirely new systems, to avoid US sanctions and sell oil to China.

From drones to rocket fuel, China and Russia are helping Iran through supply chains

By Kimberly Donovan and Emily Ezratty

The US will need to confront China and Russia about their support for the Iranian regime and their schemes to evade sanctions and export controls.